Promoting her film W.E. (her second effort as a film director) at the Venice Film Festival, Madonna, 53, graciously acknowledged her famous exes. "I am and was attracted to very creative people which is why I married Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie, two very talented directors," the singer said at a press conference last week.

"They both encouraged me as a director and as a creative person to do what I did, and they were both very supportive."

Back in 1989, Madonna divorced Penn, now 51, after just 4 years of marriage. She and Ritchie, now 42, divorced in 2008 after eight years together; they share a son, 11-year-old Rocco. These days, she keeps company with boyfriend Brahim Zaibat, a 24 year-old French breakdancer.

For now, it remains to be seen whether her inspiring exes have helped Madonna pull off a cinematic achievement with W.E.. The historical flick, about the shocking real-life romance of King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to be with American divorcée Wallis Simpson, is getting scathing reviews from critics so far.